Ed Norris: Are The Astros Even Trying?

Major League Baseball kicks off Sunday night with the Texas Rangers facing the Houston Astros, who are making their first appearance in the American League.

Really???

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Whose bright idea was it to kick off the 2013 season with the absolute worst team in baseball?

To add insult to injury it would appear that the new owner Jim Crane with a reported net worth of two billion dollars doesn’t care to even try to compete. The Astros have a payroll of 25 million dollars which is 4 million less than A Rod’s annual salary of 29 million. When Houston fans complained he responded by saying that if they aren’t happy with the roster he will accept a 10 million dollar check.

Sooooo a team that may well lose 110 games is the one MLB has chosen to put on national display . Plus you’re rewarding an owner who is making no attempt at getting better, and these decisions obviously passed many levels of discussion and ultimately approval.